Assignment 3

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/us/15iht-letter.html?_r=1&ref=cheerleaders

In this article, the author Richard Bernstein discusses if cheerleading is a sport or not. "At first blush, it wouldn’t seem to qualify, though, to be sure, it involves physical skills, training and coaches, and there are regular cheerleading competitions around the country." This is true! It is very physical, you need coaches, you train almost all year around for national competitions. The only thing from stopping it from becoming a competitive sport is universities, such as Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, is that NCAA doesn't recognize it as a sport. Well what does NCAA look for in a sport. Athletisim? Physical strength? Competitive drive? Cheerleading has all of those things, maybe even more so then other recognized NCAA sports. "Ms. Silva said, “The intent of such groups is to lead crowds in cheers at sporting events, which makes them undeniably part of the entertainment” — even if there’s athletic skill involved." This is insulting to myself as a cheerleader because I know how hard it is...also how painful it is. We are there for entertainment for sports games, but that's not what COMPETITIVE cheerleading entails. We work just as hard, even harder, then a lot of sports these days. For example I have practice Decemeber 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 over christmas break. I get to go home for 3 days!!! Then I'm back at practice the 27th. Is that not hard work?? My thumb is strained, my wrist hurts, I wear a back brace, and I have bruises all over. Cheerleading is painful. So as to whether it is a sport or not, I know it is, my team and other teams all around the nation do as well, and that is all that matters. And until NCAA recognizes our work, we will continue to fight this battle until we get the credit we deserve.